What should I pack myself and what should the movers pack?

Pack yourself: documents, jewellery, cash, medicines, laptops and chargers — these travel with you, never on the truck. Let the movers pack everything fragile or heavy: crockery, electronics, furniture, appliances. Professional material and technique matter most exactly where damage is most likely.

How do I prepare the fridge and washing machine?

Empty and defrost the fridge 24 hours before the move, and leave its doors open to dry. Drain the washing machine hoses and, for front-loaders, fit the transit bolts if you still have them. Movers wrap and carry both, but only you can do the emptying and defrosting in time.

What paperwork does a gated society need for moving?

Typically a move-out/move-in intimation to the society office, a gate pass for the truck, service-lift booking, and sometimes an NOC showing dues are cleared. Rules and timings vary by society — tell your mover the society name in advance so the crew and paperwork match its rules.

Should anything be photographed before the move?

Yes: electronics (with their cable connections), existing scratches on furniture, meter readings at both homes, and the empty rooms after loading. Five minutes of photos prevents most disputes — with movers, landlords and societies alike.

Moving Guides

The house shifting checklist: two weeks to a calm moving day

Updated September 2026 · by American Express Packers and Movers

After thousands of moves, we can tell you exactly what separates a calm moving day from a chaotic one — and it is rarely the truck. It is the two weeks before. This is the checklist our own supervisors share with customers at survey time.

2 weeks before

☐ Declutter room by room — sell or donate what you will not move; every carton costs money
☐ Get surveys and written quotes from 2–3 verified movers; fix your date
☐ Inform your landlord / society office; ask what paperwork the move needs
☐ Start address changes: bank, Aadhaar-linked services, deliveries, school records
☐ Use up freezer food and open groceries

1 week before

☐ Confirm the booking, crew arrival time and vehicle size in writing
☐ Book the society service lift and truck gate pass at both ends
☐ Arrange leave for moving day — one decision-maker must be home
☐ Back up laptops and family photos; keep chargers in your own bag
☐ Return borrowed items, collect laundry, refill prescriptions for 2 weeks

1 day before

☐ Defrost and dry the fridge; drain the washing machine
☐ Pack a first-night box: kettle, chai, snacks, chargers, toiletries, one change of clothes, basic tools, bedsheets
☐ Set aside the do-not-pack zone (documents, valuables, medicines) and tell the crew supervisor
☐ Photograph electronics connections and any existing furniture marks
☐ Keep cash/UPI ready for the balance payment and small tips

Moving day

☐ Walk the supervisor through the house before packing starts; point out fragiles
☐ Check the inventory list as cartons are numbered and loaded
☐ Do a final sweep: lofts, balcony, bathroom shelves, meter box, parking store
☐ Note meter readings; hand over keys; get the loading copy of the inventory
☐ At the new home, direct cartons by room label — it halves unpacking time

After delivery

☐ Tick off every inventory number before the crew leaves; open fragile cartons first
☐ Report any damage immediately with photos — claims have time limits
☐ Test appliances after the fridge has stood upright for a few hours
☐ Update remaining addresses; transfer or close old utility connections
☐ Leave the crew a review — honest feedback keeps this industry honest

Two related reads: what moving actually costs in Gurgaon and how to choose a mover you can trust. And if your dates are set, a free survey takes twenty minutes and turns all of this into someone else's job.